The ATTRIBUTES of GOD
WHAT IF GOD IS BETTER THAN I EVER KNEW?
A practice and a poem pg. 12
TASTE AND SEE Rediscovering the goodness of God on the field pg. 18
PRAYER IS OUR PRIMARY PLEASURE
The treasure that all the world needs pg. 30
TURN YOUR EYES UPON THE ONE WHO SEES YOU
Have you ever felt empty, like the inside of you is a cistern that, though maybe once was full of water, is now dry and hollow? I’m sure you probably have—saints throughout history have talked about these experiences, using phrases like “dark night of the soul,” “spiritual dryness,” or as Henri Nouwen put it, feeling “flat on the ground and in total darkness.”
Recently, as I was feeling hollow but trying desperately to pull water from a rock anyway, a hymn suddenly came into my head.
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior, And life more abundant and free.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.
(Helen H. Lemmel, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”)
Maybe you have also experienced a spiritual low recently, or maybe you are doing well, full to overflowing. Regardless of where we find ourselves, however, I’m struck by the importance of this very thing—turning our attention and gaze upon Jesus.
In one of my favorite stories in the Gospels, Jesus comes upon a man riddled with leprosy. When met with, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean” (Luke 5:12), Jesus does four remarkable things. First, He sees this man—really, truly sees him. We know this because of what comes next—Jesus reaches out and touches him. This man would have been isolated because of his illness, sent out and abandoned on the margins. It is highly likely that he hadn’t been touched, or hugged, in a long while. So Jesus, seeing a deeply lonely and ritually unclean man, touches him. Third, Jesus doesn’t let the man’s hopeful and implied question of “Are you willing to help me?” go unnoticed or unmet. “I am willing,” He says. Finally, Jesus does what is surprisingly the least remarkable element of their interaction, and He heals the man of his disease.
Wherever you find yourself at this moment, I encourage you to turn your eyes to Jesus. Because I can tell you this about His nature—He is looking back at you (whether you feel it or not) and seeing you in a way that no one else does.
Julie Daubé
Hannah Castro
Emily Smith
e ditorial a ssistant
Mandy Gove
c irculation Ful Fill M ent
Julie Connon
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cover: Photograph by Olivia, Alliance Video. The three fabrics represent the three Persons of the Trinity, with dark blue standing for the Father, copper standing for the Son, and the translucent blue standing for the Holy Spirit.
2025
04 Christ - Centered
MARKED BY THE SPIRIT
Operating in the way of Jesus with expectancy | by Tim Meier | pg. 4
WHAT IS HIS NAME? How the names of God reveal His nature | by Alliance Life staff | pg. 8
FREE VERSE
Quotes from the Kingdom | pg. 11
TOZER ANTHOLOGY
Compiled by Alliance Life staff | pg. 11
WHAT IF GOD IS BETTER THAN I EVER KNEW? A practice and a poem by Sarah Bourns Crosby | pg. 12
18 Acts 1:8
TASTE AND SEE Rediscovering the goodness of God on the field by Marie,* an international worker serving with aXcess in the Middle East | pg. 18
FOUNDATIONS Nearness is Likeness by A. W. Tozer | pg. 22
YOUR GENEROSITY IN ACTION Offering Hope to Hurting Hearts | by an Alliance worker serving in the Middle East | pg. 26
PRAYER IS OUR PRIMARY PLEASURE The treasure that all the world needs by Kelly Douglas and Diana Burg | pg. 30 36 Family
by Thomas George | pg. 36
IS PRIMARY Requests from Alliance workers | pg. 37
FAMILY
Personnel changes, obituaries, and classified ads | pg. 38
MARKED BY THE SPIRIT
Operating in the way of Jesus with expectancy
by Tim Meier
Whatever we are currently experiencing of God—His love, the fruit of the Spirit, the spiritual gifts—is not the end of the story. It is not all there is of God. And I don’t know about you, but I’m not really interested in mild religion—praying just to pray and hoping for a ticket to heaven. I don’t think the unbelieving world is interested in that either. I want the all-consuming, transforming presence of Jesus in its fullness!
There is a common disconnect that exists in the American church between what we hear from the pulpit, what our theology says we believe, and what we live out. Even in The Alliance, we can teach about the theology of healing but rarely expect people to get healed. We talk about the work of the Spirit and His power to set us free from sin, but many people don’t really expect that to be true or haven’t seen evidence of it. This disconnect can turn us into a club of religious people who have a gap between what we say we believe and what we actually believe.
HE REMAINS THE SAME
To be very direct, some who claim to be the most Bible-believing Christians also believe that God doesn’t act the same way today that He used to act and work in Scripture. I understand those arguments, and I think a lot of the intention is pure. Yet, this is troubling because Scripture teaches that God is unchanging—the same yesterday, today, and forever (see Heb. 13:8; James 1:17; Mal. 3:6). Readers of the Bible, particularly in the Gos-
pels and the Book of Acts, will see all kinds of evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work. It is because of the Holy Spirit’s work that we have all the hope in the world—because of our Helper that we can know truth and even know Jesus Christ (see John 15:26; 16:13–14). That’s the Spirit’s primary purpose in us, to help us know and live out the way of Jesus, to make us more like Him. If we believe this—that the Bible is true, God is unchanging, and the Holy Spirit still works today—then that has real implications for us.
The way of Jesus, which the Holy Spirit helps us to walk, is very mysterious. It’s not just about sin management; it’s also about the transformation and miracles that happen when God shows up. When Jesus started His ministry, things started happening right away— healing, salvation, deliverance. And when we live out the life of Jesus, those things are going to be happening around us too.
I’m not talking about being a super Christian—simply about walking in humility with God and the hunger and expectation that follows. Since none of us have “arrived” in our walk with God, we can be expectant that He has more for us.
THE HOLY SPIRIT’S WORK
If you are a follower of Jesus, you received the Holy Spirit upon belief. The Apostle Paul describes this in Ephesians 1 like a seal, a stamp of our inheritance: “When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession” (Eph. 1:13b–14). Then we go on a journey of sanctification with the Holy Spirit, which is the process of being made more like Jesus.
There comes a point in every believer’s life where you start to think, I don’t know that I can do this Christian thing. I don’t think I have what it takes. This is the moment where we must go to God directly. In The Alliance, we’ve recently debated what to call this moment, but we’re largely in agreement that it’s common for the believer. This is why Paul follows Ephesians 1 with Ephesians 5, where he says to “be filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18b). The verb used there for “filled” implies a continuous action—to be filled with the Spirit and keep on being filled by the Spirit. Paul makes a distinction here that there are people who assent to belief in Jesus but are not living out the maximum capacity of what they could have in the Kingdom because they’re not expectant or asking to be filled with the Spirit of God. But when we ask to be filled, He fills us. Why? Because He created us to be with Him and be like Him, to mirror Him and work with Him, to work out the Kingdom together in the world.
Maybe for some of us, we need this reminder of asking God to fill us with His Spirit, then living in expectation that He’s going to answer us.
THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE FOR THE BODY
So, what happens when the Spirit of God fills us? First Corinthians 12 gives us one marker of evidence. Paul says, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:4–7). The Holy Spirit is the One who helps us grow in sanctification, who sets us free from the power of sin, and helps us know Jesus better. The Spirit also helps us grow into sanctification and maturity by guiding us to live into the gifts that God gives each of us. Jesus isn’t our Savior just to get us into heaven—He also saved us to work out the way of the Kingdom in our lives, with our families, and with our communities. It’s also important to note that He gives us these gifts not primarily for our own sakes but for the sake of the entire Body, for “the common good.”
When we talk about spiritual gifts, it can be easy to think it’s like a personality quiz. (Which Disney princess are you? What is your Enneagram number?) But the spiritual gifts shouldn’t be reduced to things that you enjoy doing or are naturally good at. They are gifts that God decides on and gives. It’s worth repeating—these gifts are from God, not your DNA. And they are for others, for the edification of the Body of Christ. These gifts, then, are an element of the sanctification process because they are part of how we become like Jesus. They should shift our focus from being self-centered and self-focused to Jesus-centered and others-focused.
This can be a difficult shift because often we think that once we surrender to God, His job is to make our lives better. He does, of course, make our lives better— but it comes at a cost. Frankly, you can have as much of Jesus as you want, but you have to give Him everything. He will give you peace, but you also have to give Him your anxiety. You can find freedom from sin, but you have to be willing to surrender yourself and your desires to Him.
Spiritual gifts are not manufactured, and they should not be ignored or denied. If you have a gift, use it! It’s not humility to deny that you have a gift of leadership or giving or prophecy. Using your gifts, and growing in maturity in them, honors God and our communities of faith. I know that sometimes it can be hard to not compare ourselves to others or wish that God had made us
differently. But as Paul goes on to say, “God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be” (1 Cor. 12:18).
EXPECTATION WITHOUT AGENDA
The things that we generally think of as supernatural— healing, prophecy, miracles—are actually natural in God’s Kingdom. This is how He works in the world. It’s natural for Jesus to heal people—so it should be natural for us to pray for people to be healed. It’s natural for God to answer prayer, so it should be natural for us to pray with boldness. It’s natural for God to speak to His creation, so we should expect He’ll speak to us!
I know that some of us have been disappointed or hurt in charismatic, “Holy Spirit” environments. We may have felt manipulated, coerced, or let down. We’ve also seen places where miracles have occurred, but the character of the leaders has led to devastation. But as Ron Walborn rightly teaches, “The answer to misuse in these situations is not disuse but right use.”
Sometimes we also look around the world and just lose heart. A close friend of ours recently passed away from cancer. She was 45. I’m still wrestling with that reality. Why didn’t God heal her? I don’t pretend to understand. But you know what? It doesn’t prevent me from praying in expectation for healing. Because while the work and way of Jesus is mysterious, He is unchanging. He is the same. I know it can be difficult, but it’s worth it to lean in with vulnerability and expectation. Just like when we see someone turn their life to Christ and then stray, we don’t stop sharing the gospel with the next person. So we continue to pray for healing even when we’re disappointed. This is not about us; it’s about Him.
I grieve that many churches don’t live in the tension of walking in and working toward maturity in the gifts of the Spirit because I believe that God invites us into expectation. In The Alliance, the phrase previously used regarding the spiritual gifts and life in the Spirit was, “Seek not, forbid not.” But, in the past decade, we changed it to what I believe is a much healthier phrase: “Expectation without agenda.” We don’t put an agenda on God because He can do whatever He wants, but we do expect that He’s going to do something!
So, here’s my hope—that you would join me in expectancy. That we would, as a Body and without agenda, make room for God to move. That we would never stop asking Him to fill us with His Holy Spirit.
Tim Meier has served as The Alliance’s vice president for Development since 2018. His passion is to see churches and individuals engaged in and mobilized for the Kingdom in a rapidly changing world. Tim and his wife, Rachel, have been married for 22 years and have two sons, Blaine and Jude.
Columbus, Ohio May 26–30
• Worship
—PSALM 24:1 Visit council.cmalliance.org for more information and to register.
• Corporate prayer
• Continuing Council business related to our Statement of Faith
• Electing our 13th Alliance president
• Healing and communion
• The commissioning of new international workers
WHAT IS HIS NAME?
How the names of God reveal His nature
by Alliance Life staff
n the Bible, God is known by many names. A majority of them are descriptive, adding an attribute or action after the word YHWH, or Yahweh (sometimes transliterated as “Jehovah”), which itself seems to be the closest thing God has to a personal name in the Old Testament. Many of these names, such as “the Lord our Banner,” are ones that have been given to God by His worshipers. Names like this stand as altars to God throughout history—testimonies that we still remember of who He is and what He has done. He was a Provider, and He is still a Provider. He was a Shepherd, and He remains our Shepherd.
Many lists like this exist, and this one is not comprehensive, but we hope it will be helpful to you in times of studying the Word and in prayer. A lot can be learned about God through what He has been called for generations. As you read this list, we also invite you to consider—what is your testimony and altar before God? What is the name of God that lies closest to your heart?
“Suppose they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
—Exodus
3:13b, paraphrase
God—El, Elohim, Theos
Genesis 1:1; 2 Samuel 7:22; Psalm 46:10; John 3:16–17; 1 John 4:8–9
Father—Abba, Pater
Psalm 68:5; Isaiah 64:8; Luke 6:36; Ephesians 3:14–15; Romans 8:14–15
Lord; Lord of Lords—Adonai, Kyrios
Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 136:3; 1 Timothy 6:15–16; Revelation 19:16
L ord —YHWH, Yahweh, Jehovah
Exodus 34:5–7; Numbers 6:24–26; Deuteronomy 6:4–5
“I AM WHO I AM”; “I AM”; the Self-Existent One
Editor’s note: In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes seven distinct “I AM” statements (“ego eimi” in Greek). This has been understood in Christian tradition as His self-identification that He is God.
Exodus 3:14; John 4:26, 6:20, 8:24, 8:28, 8:58, 13:19, 18:5–8
The Alpha and the Omega; the Beginning and the End; the First and the Last
Revelation 22:13
Ancient of Days
Daniel 7:9, 13, 22
Anointed One—Messiah, Christ
Daniel 9:25–26; Matthew 1:16, 16:16; John 1:41, 4:25–26
Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 21:42; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:4 Cornerstone; Foundation
Creator
Psalm 146:6; Isaiah 40:28; Acts 17:24–25
Everlasting God—El Olam
Genesis 21:33; Isaiah 40:28
Faithful and True
Revelation 19:11
God Almighty; the All-Sufficient One—El Shaddai
Genesis 17:1, 35:11; Ezekiel 10:5
God Most High—El Elyon
Genesis 14:18–20; Psalm 57:2, 78:35
God Who Sees—El Roi
Genesis 16:13
God With Us—Immanuel
Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22–23
Helper; Advocate
Psalm 33:20, 118:7; John 14:16–17, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7
Jealous
Exodus 34:14
King; King of Kings
Psalm 29:10, 98:4–6; 1 Timothy 1:17, 6:15–16; Revelation 19:16
Lamb of God
Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29, 36; Revelation 5:12, 19:7
Lion of Judah
Revelation 5:5
Living God
Jeremiah 10:10; Daniel 6:26; Matthew 16:16; Acts 14:15
L ord of Hosts; Lord Almighty YHWH Sabaoth
1 Samuel 17:45; Psalm 46:11; Isaiah 9:7
L ord Our Banner—YHWH Nissi
Exodus 17:15
L ord Our Healer —YHWH Rapha
Exodus 15:26
L ord Our Provider—YHWH Jireh
Genesis 22:13–14
L ord Our Righteousness—YHWH Tsidkenu
Jeremiah 23:5–6
L ord Our Rock—YHWH Selah
Psalm 18:1–2, 28:1
L ord Our Shepherd—YHWH Raah
Genesis 48:15; Psalm 23:1; Ezekiel 34
The L ord Saves—Yeshua
Matthew 1:21
The L ord Who Sanctifies You YHWH Mekoddishkem
Exodus 31:12–13; Leviticus 20:7–8
The L ord Is Peace—YHWH Shalom
Judges 6:24
Redeemer
Psalm 19:14, 78:35; Isaiah 49:26, 54:5–8, 63:16
Son of God
Matthew 14:33; Luke 1:35; John 11:25–27, 20:30–31
Son of Man
Daniel 7:13–14; Matthew 16:13; Mark 2:10; Revelation 1:13
Spirit of the L ord ; Spirit of God; Holy Spirit—Ruach YHWH, Ruach Elohim, Pneuma
Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4; Isaiah 11:1–2; Acts 1:8, 2:4
The Word—Logos
John 1:1, 14
Wonderful Counselor (or Wonderful, Counselor)
Isaiah 9:6
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
—1 CORINTHIANS 13:12
“How can we turn our knowledge about God into knowledge of God? The rule for doing this is simple but demanding. It is that we turn each truth that we learn about God into matter for meditation before God, leading to prayer and praise to God.”
—J. I. PACKER
“This Beloved of ours is merciful and good. Besides, he so deeply longs for our love that he keeps calling us to come closer. . . . God calls to us in countless little ways all the time.”
THE TOZER ANTHOLOG
Y
Compiled by Alliance Life staff
What is God like? What kind of God is He? How may we expect Him to act toward us and toward all created things? Such questions are not merely academic. They touch the far-in reaches of the human spirit, and their answers affect life and character and destiny.
To our questions God has provided answers; not all the answers, certainly, but enough to satisfy our intellects and ravish our hearts. These answers He has provided in nature, in the Scriptures, and in the Person of His Son.
Though God in this threefold revelation has provided answers to our questions concerning Him, the answers by no means lie on the surface. They must be sought by prayer, by long meditation on the written Word, and by earnest and welldisciplined labor.
God exists in Himself and of Himself. His being He owes to no one. His substance is indivisible. He has no parts but is single in His unitary being.
Love, for instance, is not something God has and which may grow or diminish or cease to be. His love is the way God is, and when He loves He is simply being Himself.
—from The Knowledge of the Holy by A. W. Tozer, Harper & Row, 1961.
WHAT IF
GOD IS BETTER THAN I EVER KNEW?
A practice and a poem
by Sarah Bourns Crosby
by
Photography
Olivia, Alliance Video
What comes to mind when you picture God? Allow me to guide you into a short exercise of pondering your current image of Him.
Find a comfortable silence and welcome God’s presence, whatever that might look like for you today. What do you notice first?
How might you imagine God’s face? What expressions do you see? How does He look at you?
In this picture, where are you in relation to God? As you imagine the space you take up and the space God takes up, what do you observe? How near or far away does He seem to you?
What does God’s voice sound like? What do you notice about His body language or posture toward you?
Using your five senses, paint a scene in your mind’s eye, allowing details of what you see, feel, or sense to unfold before you.
Now, gently notice how you experience God in this picture. How does it feel to sense God’s gaze upon you? How does your body respond to His presence with you?
How do you imagine God is feeling toward you? What might God be thinking about you?
Simply notice. Without analyzing or judging, hold out any new pieces of awareness you’ve received as helpful information.
How might God be inviting you to respond as you finish this practice? What does your soul want to say to the Lord? Close with whatever honest words come to the surface.
A POEM
WHAT IF GOD
What if God doesn’t want as much from me as God wants for me? What if God wants to love me more than to use me?
What if God likes the way I was made?
What if God wouldn’t have me any other way?
What if God isn’t mad or mean?
What if God is exceedingly compassionate toward my needs?
What if God expects less of me than I expect of myself? What if God isn’t comparing me to anybody else?
What if God cares more about who I become than what I believe?
What if God invites me to trust myself and be who I was created to be?
What if God desires my presence and my rest Even more than my obedience and my selflessness?
What if God is curious about how I feel?
What if God asks where it hurts and if I want to be healed?
What if God delights in my desires and dreams And doesn’t intend to take them away from me?
Yes.
What if God is better than I ever knew?
What if I’m deeply loved, the whole way through?
What if there’s nothing to earn and nothing to prove?
And What if That’s absolutely True
For you Too?
Sarah Bourns Crosby is a writer and spiritual director who enjoys cultivating sacred space to listen to God. Sarah has her master of divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary and has ministered in churches, on college campuses, and internationally. Her home is in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their adorable twin boys. Visit sarahbournscrosby.com to find more of her work.
inFocus
“When God created human beings, he made them to be like himself. He created them male and female, and he blessed them and called them ‘human.’”
—Genesis 5:1b–2, NLT
Photograph by Andy, Alliance Video
TASTE AND SEE
Rediscovering the goodness of God on the field
by
Marie,* an international worker serving with aXcess in the Middle East
“Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8a).
This is the invitation we have from the psalmist—an invitation for us to not just believe that God is good but to experience it ourselves. If someone tells you the chocolate cake at a party tastes incredible, what do you do? You don’t just believe them; you try it and experience it for yourself.
This is our invitation—to be with Jesus. To abide in Him. To walk the way that He walked on this earth and experience it for ourselves. To experience His goodness. This was my invitation as I left all that I knew to move to the Middle East five years ago. I left behind a wellpaying job in the medical world, a tight-knit community, my church, girls I was mentoring, and my family, and I packed up and left for the next assignment that I believed the Lord was leading me into. It was difficult to do. What I came to learn, though, was that what felt like such loss at the time would turn into great abundance.
HE DETERMINES OUR STEPS
Life is funny. We often believe that we know what’s best for ourselves. We make plans for our lives, our futures, and we dream. This is a completely normal part of life. But as followers of Jesus, we have confessed that Jesus is Lord—and that means He is Lord over our lives. My life is no longer my own; it’s His. “A person’s heart plans his
way, but the Lord determines his steps” (Prov. 16:9, CSB). This was me—I had made plans for the ways I wanted to live. Of course it included serving Jesus, that was central to my heart and goals, but going overseas? That just wasn’t in the plan, nor did I have a heart for it initially.
As a follower of Jesus, I strive hard to live a surrendered life. I always say that I try to live with my hands open in a posture to receive. In the same way, though, I leave my hands open so God can also take away anything He wants while I choose to believe that He is good and faithful, that He has abundance of life for me, life “to the full,” like He promises (see John 10:10). That’s how I left for the Middle East—with a peace deep in my soul that I was supposed to go for two years as a long-term intern. But I was still not without a lot of fear and uncertainty.
Fast forward six months, and I found myself in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic in a foreign country—a country that had lockdowns for over a year and had their airport closed for six whole months. I remember sitting in my little apartment and looking over the balcony at hundreds of rooftops of other apartment buildings. They were all shades of the same dusty brown, with laundry blowing in the wind on the clotheslines. I felt like a prisoner peeking through the bars of the balcony guardrail as I stared out. Through
many tears, I would say, “God, this is what You have for me? You could be using me in the ICU in America, and instead I’m sitting here in an apartment doing absolutely nothing. Is this Your abundance for me? What are You doing? This was not in the plan—I feel not only useless, but also like I’m wasting away what gifts I have to offer.”
I had this conversation with God over and over again at the beginning of COVID. A few months in, though, I started realizing something. Jesus Himself was the goal and the prize. The goal wasn’t to be something or really to achieve much of anything. It was to abide in Him, the True Vine. My goal was relationship with my Heavenly Father and to experience His goodness, His character, His presence, His being. He is good, and He can’t be anything else.
EXPERIENCING A GOOD GOD
Time went on during our wild COVID days in the Middle East, and I watched as God filled the spots in my heart that once had experienced so much loss with new joy. I saw Him bring fulfillment to flood areas of my discontentment. I longed to be back in the States, back in my prior life in what I thought was abundant, less and less. There was nothing wrong with what I was doing in America—but God had abundance for me in different ways and places. I remember walking home one day from the store. The sun was shining on my face, my hands were full of groceries, and I remember thinking, Wow, I feel like I’m living some of my best days.
Over the last five years, I’ve grown a passionate heart for the people I am serving in the Middle East. I want them to experience the goodness of God too, not just the things God may give them or provide, but to experience Him—His presence. I want them to taste and see that the Lord is good. As an international worker, I want people to come to know Jesus as their Savior—but why? It’s because I deeply believe that the gospel message is true. Because I have experienced this good God, and I want my local friends to be rescued from the bondage that entangles them. I want them to know that there is a good God who loves and cares for them. This is my heart for the people I work with.
When I started working in the clinic on the field, my inclination was to fix everything and anything. I wanted people to have a better life, better care, and better control over their physical conditions. I would sit and listen to each patient, and my heart would break. Life just didn’t seem fair. Why weren’t there resources available for a simple gallbladder removal? A baby to be born? A knee replacement? Why? Why did everything just never seem like enough? As I handed over medicines that I knew wouldn’t even last a month
before the patient returned needing more, I felt like I was putting Band-Aids on massive wounds that really needed intensive surgery.
A DIFFERENT ABUNDANCE
When I’m in front of patients and hear their stories of war and terror, their awful circumstances and scarcity of basic needs, sometimes I have wanted to say, You need Jesus! He is so good! But I’ve been confronted with my own wrestling—How is Jesus good when these are their circumstances? When they have diabetes and high blood pressure but can only afford a diet that makes those chronic diseases worse? When they suffered great physical abuse in their marriage and also had to flee their home country due to war and terror? When they have a miscarriage because they are malnourished? When they are at risk for another stroke or heart attack because they can’t afford to buy more medication? Where is God’s goodness in that?
I was brought to my knees over this in another wrestling match with God. I remember saying, “God, I want to understand—why? Why was I born in America and they were born here? Why does one person have to go through so much trauma in their lifetime? Why is the world so broken? Why can’t You come through for them like I want You to come through? Why?” And in that season, I learned about God’s goodness in another way. God is good not because of what He gives me or anybody else. He’s good not because of what He does and doesn’t do on this side of eternity. God isn’t good because of how He meets my expectations or because of the ways I want Him to show up. He’s good because it’s His nature. Circumstances don’t determine who He is. Why He answers some prayers and not others doesn’t determine His goodness. He is just good
As much as I have wanted to come through for my patients to meet all their needs, I will always fall short. I have also felt like I have to defend the “good God” because my Western mind has struggled to see God’s goodness outside of circumstances. I wish I had all the answers to these questions. But wrestling is important, and when we lean in, we get to taste and see for ourselves that God is good. Even in the valley experiences and questions in our lives, we can still experience His goodness.
How good is God to know exactly what we need? How good is He to plan and determine our steps, even when we have other plans? How good is God to know us intimately and give Himself to us? He is our Good Shepherd. He knows His sheep, and His sheep know Him and His voice (see John 10:4, 14). Don’t take my word for it that God is good—taste and see for yourself. He has abundance for you too.
Sow Seeds of Joy
NEARNESS IS LIKENESS
Adapted by Alliance Life staff from an editorial written by A. W. Tozer, originally published in The Alliance Witness on January 28, 1959.
One serious and often distressing problem for many Christians is their feeling that God is far from them, or that they are far from God.
It is hard to rejoice in the Lord when we are suffering from this sense of remoteness. It is like trying to have a warm, bright summer without the sun. The chief trouble here is of course not intellectual and cannot be cured by intellectual means; yet truth must enter the mind before it can enter the heart, so let us reason together about this.
We should never think of God as being spatially near or remote, for He is not here or there but carries here and there in His heart. Only God is infinite, and in His infinitude He swallows up all space. “‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord” (Jer. 23:24b). He fills heaven and earth as the ocean fills the bucket that is submerged in it, and as the ocean surrounds the bucket so does God the universe He fills. “The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you” (1 Kings 8:27b). God is not contained; He contains.
Yet when we speak of men being “far” from God, we speak truly. The Lord said of Israel,
“Their heart is far from me” (see Isa. 29:13), and there we have the definition of far and near in relation to God. The words refer not to physical distance, but to likeness.
That God is equally near to all parts of His universe is plainly taught in the Scriptures (Ps. 139:1–18), yet some beings experience His nearness and others do not, depending upon their moral likeness to Him. It is dissimilarity that creates the sense of remoteness between creatures and between men and God.
For the moral unlikeness between man and God the Bible has a word, alienation, and the Holy Spirit presents a frightful picture of this alienation as it works itself out in human character. Fallen human nature is precisely opposite to the nature of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. Because there is no moral likeness there is no communion, hence the sense of physical distance, the feeling that God is far away in space. This erroneous notion discourages prayer and prevents many a sinner from believing unto life.
Paul encouraged the Athenians by reminding them that God was not far from any one of them, that it was He in whom they lived and moved
and had their being (see Acts 17:28). Yet people think of Him as farther away than the farthest star. The truth is that He is nearer to us than we are to ourselves.
But how can the conscious sinner bridge the mighty gulf that separates him from God in living experience? The answer is that he cannot, but the glory of the Christian message is that Christ did. Through the blood of His Cross, He made peace that He might reconcile all things unto Himself.
The new birth makes us partakers of the divine nature. There the work of undoing the dissimilarity between us and God begins. From there it progresses by the sanctifying operation of the Holy Spirit till God is satisfied.
That is the theology of it, but as I said, even the regenerated soul may sometimes suffer from the feeling that God is far from them. What then should we do?
The trouble may be no more than a temporary break in God-conscious communion due to any one of half a hundred causes. The cure is faith. Trust God in the dark till the light returns.
God was never away in the first place.
OFFERING HOPE TO HURTING HEARTS YOUR GENEROSITY in action
by an Alliance worker serving in the Middle East
She’s the first one in the door for our Mommy and Me class. I greet her in both Hebrew and English. No response. I try Arabic. Nothing. She points at the toddler in the stroller.
“José,*” she says. Another mom enters. She speaks more Spanish than I do. They talk briefly, and we learn the first woman’s name is Camila. She is José’s nanny.
Despite Camila’s lack of local languages, she engages with all the activities of our class. She and José sing and dance and listen to the story. When it is time for snack and craft, she gets him settled and goes to make a cup of tea.
That’s when Sandra enters, a local mom who often spends time at the community center studying. She’s a fluent Spanish speaker and a believer. As she pokes her head in the door of the class, I call her in.
“Sandra! I have a lady here that only speaks Spanish. I’d love for you to meet her.”
They begin talking and soon bow their heads to pray. Camila’s tears begin to flow. It is hard for her in this country. She feels alone, and her family back home is going through a tough time.
She’s a person with a story, a heart with hurts and
needs. And because of the work you make possible through the Jerusalem Community Center, she now has a heart with hope.
A VISION FOR COMMUNITY
In the spring of 2023, we began to ask the Lord what He wanted for our team in Jerusalem. We heard clearly, “Steward well what you’ve been given.” That meant the property on Hanevi’im Street.
The Alliance property in Jerusalem has been here for over 100 years. It has launched many congregations and ministries. But since COVID, apart from hosting a couple of congregations, it operated primarily as administrative offices for the different ministries around the country.
The Lord began to birth a new vision for the property. Hanevi’im Street is a perfect cross section of Jerusalem. Every major people group can be found there, along with six schools, apartment buildings, businesses, the Ministry of Education, and hostels and hotels. We began to ask ourselves, “What would it look like to serve this community well?” If we can reach our surrounding community with the good news, we can reach our whole city.
So, we began to serve. We opened our building up to be a blessing to our community, hosting prayer groups and graduations. We started doing teacher appreciation events at the local schools. We led a fine arts camp that was received tremendously well. We began planning programs and events for the fall of 2023.
And then the war began.
“Lord, is this still what You have for us?” we asked. “Did we hear You correctly?”
In December 2023, we took a leap of faith and opened our building up to the community for a holiday movie night. It was standing room only. Every people group on our street showed up.
We continued our teacher appreciation events, and the testimonies from them were overwhelming. Teachers in our community were feeling seen, valued, and loved.
We took a bigger leap of faith and began offering programming that responded to the expressed needs and desires of the members of our community—things like a robotics class, dance lessons, and a Mommy and Me group. As one mom said, “Thank you. When everyone else is closing things and canceling things because of the war, you’re starting them. This place is close to my son’s school. It’s safe, and he loves it here. Thank you for seeing the children.”
The war has been overwhelming. But for us, it has just underscored the need for the Body of Christ to offer places where all people feel seen, valued, wanted, and loved. By God’s grace, and through your generosity and prayers, the Jerusalem Community Center is becoming that place.
CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR PEOPLE DEVASTATED BY WAR
Since October 2023, war has claimed the lives of thousands of Israelis and Palestinians and displaced many more. Your giving to this project sustains multicultural outreach events, prayer meetings, educational programs, and other gospel-advancing initiatives at a Jerusalem community center. Visit cmalliance.org/gift-catalog-alliancestrategic-projects/jerusalem-communitycenter to create opportunities for people devastated by war to feel seen, safe, and wanted. Learn more about Alliance strategic projects throughout the world in need of your prayers and financial support by accessing the 2024–25 Strategic Giving Opportunities Gift Catalog at cmalliance. org/giftcatalog or by calling toll-free (866) 443-8262.
WHERE WE’RE HEADED
This year, we are excited to expand our programming and outreach. And we are excited to begin equipping local believers to lead in these spaces. One of these people is Sam, who will be managing our coffee space. An Arab believer with a heart for all peoples to know the love of the Messiah, he makes the best cup of espresso you’ll ever taste and has a beautiful vision of how the ministry of hospitality can change a community. Another is Hannah, a Jewish believer who will be teaching Pilates. She believes strongly in helping women learn to care for their bodies and minds well, enabling them to be the best they can be.
Volunteers from every background and ethnicity are coming together under the banner of God’s love to offer hope and healing to our community.
PARTNER WITH US
Your investment in this work ensures we can continue to provide accessible spaces, quality programs, and
meaningful outreaches to the people of Jerusalem. It also means we can:
• continue to improve our building to be more practical, accessible, warm, and inviting;
• expand the programs we currently have, making classes like robotics accessible to more students and allowing for more local believers to get involved;
• bless even more schools and businesses around us, letting them know they are seen and valued by their neighbor;
• host more parties and events that display the joy and generous heart of our Father to our neighbors; and
• continue to be a beacon of light and hope in our city.
Thank you for being part of what the Lord is doing in Jerusalem. None of the stories from our community center would be possible without you.
*All names changed
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PRAYER IS OUR PRIMARY PLEASURE
The treasure that all the world needs
by Kelly Douglas and Diana Burg
“Iwill be praying for these things,” I said into Google Translate. But before I could ask my follow-up question, the woman’s hands were out, palms up, in the Islamic praying position. My friends Diana and Scott and I prayed for her situation as she stared at her phone, hungrily awaiting the translation. When it finished, she read it tearfully, copied the text, and pasted it into a note on her phone where she had stored up our prayers for her over the previous few days.
Later, we were sipping tea by the Mediterranean, in one of the least Christian nations on Earth, waiting for the football game to finish. We knew we could not return to her family home if the team lost; everyone would be too upset to host us. When they won, we returned for tea, which was, in reality, an entire meal. We laughed, cried, and prayed all night.
This day was one of the many treasures we store in our hearts from the past year. In 2024, Diana, Scott, and I traveled for three months throughout the Islamic world as invited guests visiting the families of our Muslim friends in Southern California and France.
BECOMING NEIGHBORS
This trip was planned for us by our Muslim friends. Some of them are immigrants, unable to meet us in their home countries and introduce us personally to their friends and families. Most of them, however, are refugees, and they have not seen their loved ones in years. We carried our friends’ greetings and gifts back to their families, and their families sent gifts and greetings in return. In one country in particular, we spent a month driving 4,000 miles to visit family after family. Our
friends in California would send us contact information and a location via WhatsApp. We would navigate to the home, completely unsure of what we would find. Generally, the house would be full of people, and it would take us half the visit to figure out how they were related. Sometimes, there would be younger people in the home who knew English. At other times, a friend would come to translate. In some homes, the only translation available was through our phones.
We stepped into every home as strangers. The relational clunkiness that comes with differences in language, culture, religion, and personal preference faded to the background when we saw the faces of our friends in California reflected in their family members. We saw the hunger in these families to see people who had been with their loved ones. We were told over and over again, “You bring our family’s scent,” or “Your eyes have seen my family.”
In home after home, we were fed the most delicious meals we had ever tasted. Each meeting felt like Thanksgiving, with everyone contributing their favorite dish. We learned that the most important word in every country was the word for “full,” and we used it constantly.
At each meeting, generations came together to talk and share stories and laugh. They shared about their culture, family members, thoughts on religion and politics, and those they love. Usually, they would call their loved ones who were far away, and we would all cry as we felt the enormity of these meetings. We were together, but they were still separated. We listened to their stories and grieved with them about the separation they faced. Our hearts grew every hour.
We asked permission to bless each home with a prayer in the name of Jesus. It was always granted, and we would explain that we would like
to pray with them out loud. This is unusual for Muslims, but it is not completely foreign. We use the same prayer posture as they do, with our hands before us in a receiving gesture, and our eyes open, looking at the floor. This gives them a visual cue for what is happening, because our words do not sound like most prayers they hear. We would pray in English, taking all that we had heard their hearts cry out, and pray it back to God, entrusting their hearts to Jesus’ tender care. We prayed blessing for them, we prayed for their dreams, their heartaches, and their families to be reunited. We prayed for God to listen to their prayers and grant them all the mercy they beg for each day, which is provided fully in Jesus. We would pray for light to enter their home, for darkness to be bound, and for God to reveal the truth of who He is in Jesus’ name. In each home, the prayer would be translated. Every person would cry, every single time. They reacted with a kind of gratitude that is hard to explain, begging us to stay for a week or a month. One family even offered to build a church for us to be able to stay and pastor. The spiritual sheltering they felt was so tangible that they were unwilling to let it go. Each family would walk us all the way to the car, pleading with us to stay. As uncomfortable as it was to pull out of tight parking spots with a dozen people watching, the spiritual sentiment was stronger. We would pray for them as we drove away, praying that the enemy would not be able to steal from their hearts the light and love they had experienced in Jesus.
We began as strangers, but when we visited a home and pushed through the discomfort of cultural barriers, we became neighbors. When we ate together, we became friends. When we prayed together, we became family. Around a meal, friendships were born. Our hearts
The gift you have in prayer is so precious—pour it out for the world. All people need this gift.
would expand, and we realized we wanted to return to these people. We had thought that our visit would strengthen our friendships back in California, but we realized quickly that it was actually dividing our hearts, and pieces of ourselves were left scattered in each home. It is a small taste of what my refugee friends always feel. Praying together changed everything.
GOD’S STORY UNFOLDING
This story is God’s story, and it is constantly unfolding. We have been invited to share the stories of this “holy journey”—to share God’s love with our friends’ families in their Islamic communities, starting with the mosque where we study Scripture and pray with them weekly. Unbelievable fruit has come from this, but the fruit is not what we want to share with you.
If you are reading this, you likely have trusted in the death and Resurrection of Jesus to reconcile you to God, and you have likely experienced the Holy Spirit uniting you to God. You can pray to God any time you want, sharing your heart. You rightly expect to be heard, to be cared for, and to be loved. You probably also have others who have prayed for you, seeking God’s blessing on you in times of stress or loss. You have come to God fully expecting that He will have all the mercy that you need, and more.
In this, you are so richly blessed. Friends, this is a treasure that all the world needs. We prayed with nearly a hundred Muslims on our journey, and nearly all of them had never met a Christian of any persuasion, let alone a believer who prayed for them. Their responses were identical. One woman told us that we had given her a gift that could never be repaid, that she felt completely safe for the first time in her life, and that it was the most meaningful thing she had ever experienced. Others said that when we prayed, they started to believe that God might actually help them. These are all people who pray five times each day, begging Allah for the mercy they believe he has but are unsure if he will offer it to them.
Prayer is the primary pleasure of God’s people. It is the thing we do that is most like heaven because in heaven we will be fully free to pray.
Prayer gives us the delight of being loved by the One who will make all things right, who has enough mercy even for us, and who wants to extend His mercy to all the world. To pray is to practice for heaven and be prepared for Earth.
An Islamic community leader once called me to explain why they honor the prophets. He told me that the prophets are special to Allah, and that he loves them, so he probably listens to their prayers. They believe that by honoring the
prophets, they may get the prophets to pray for them. This conversation changed my world. Muslims are desperate for God’s mercy, and they are desperate for people whose prayers God hears to pray for them. So, if you are a believer, please pray for Muslims, and seek opportunities to pray with them. Pray for the mercy they so desperately seek to be poured out on them—you know that this mercy is made available through the blood of Jesus. Pray for them to receive this mercy; pray for light; pray for blessing. Our journey abroad was based on years of praying for connections with Muslims, hosting people in our homes, visiting them in theirs, and listening to what the Spirit is doing.
The gift you have in prayer is so precious—pour it out for the world. All people need this gift. May this be the year the world turns to the Lord.
Dr. Kelly Douglas is licensed and consecrated through the South Pacific Alliance. She grew up in a C&MA church in Long Beach, California. Kelly has her bachelor of arts in biblical studies from Biola University, master of arts in global leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary, and master of arts in theology and doctor of ministry in church growth and multiplication from Talbot School of Theology. She has worked with Muslims in Orange County, California, with Diana Burg and Rev. Scott Trickett since 2018.
Diana Burg is licensed through the South Pacific Alliance. She grew up in Burkina Faso as a third culture kid with the C&MA. Diana has her bachelor of arts in Christian ministry, bachelor of arts in psychology, and master of arts in international leadership from Crown College, as well as a master of arts in spiritual formation and soul care from Talbot School of Theology. Diana served in France as an international worker with the C&MA and has worked with Muslims in Orange County, California, since 2018.
MIDDLE EAST
My name is Wael,* and I’m from a culture with no understanding of a personal relationship with God. After I decided to follow Jesus, I lost my job because of my beliefs. My believing friends told me that many Christians in the United States were praying for me—within a month, I found an even better job!
But I am learning that a relationship with Jesus is not a simple fix for all our problems. I pick up my Bible to read daily but end up with more questions than answers. I’ve visited several churches but stopped going because I felt intimidated. I long for God to reveal Himself in a significant, personal way, but month after month, this longing goes unfulfilled.
Recently, when I was grappling with things in the Bible I don’t understand, my friends shared that Jesus—and a personal relationship with Him—is the answer to my struggles. They said He welcomes my questions and respects my freedom to disagree.
I continue to volunteer at my friends’ center, serving alongside my fellow believers. But I would love to have an encounter with God—perhaps a vision, a dream—anything that will satisfy my desire to truly experience Him. I also hope to see my wife and daughters come to Christ.
*Name changed
inFocus
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
—Psalm 139:7–10
Photograph by Andy, Alliance Video
BOARD SUMMARY LETTER
November 2024
Dear family,
The Board of Directors of The Christian and Missionary Alliance met on November 7 and 8 in Columbus, Ohio. This was preceded by the annual gathering of the Higher Education Review Committee who met with the presidents of the Alliance-affiliated colleges.
The Board spent time in Scripture and prayer several times throughout the meeting. Rob Douglas and Pang Foua Rhodes led us in a devotional each morning on our need for the Holy Spirit and the need to deal well with grief, respectively.
Opening remarks were made by President Stumbo. The agenda and minutes of previous meetings were approved, and each of the vice presidents presented a brief overview of ministry.
The reports of the committees on Church Ministries, Alliance Missions, Operations/Finance, Development, the Corporate Secretary, the President, and Alliance Place were reviewed, and various current issues were discussed. Eight individuals were prayed for and appointed as workers with various specialized structures of Alliance Missions. A brief update on the status of planning for Council 2025 and the presidential election was given. Plans and designs for the smaller, more cost-efficient, redesigned Alliance Place were unveiled
and reviewed. Due to this significant redesign, our fundraising goals are greatly reduced, and we are optimistic that the goals can be soon realized. The Board unanimously approved the completion of the design of Alliance Place and to pursue construction permits. They also gave Robb Childs, project manager for Alliance Place, a standing ovation for his steadfast work on this project.
On Friday evening, the Board joined an area-wide missions event called Together for the Nations at First Alliance Church. Many members of the Board remained longer to join the district superintendents and association presidents for the initial days of their annual gathering known as Interchange.
The Board values the privilege of serving the Alliance family, and we remain fully committed to following Christ. In all things, we want to be fully His.
In Christ’s love,
Thomas
George
Corporate Secretary
The sun never sets on the Alliance family, spread out across the globe. Wherever we find ourselves, we can be certain that we are each sent. Just as the Father sent Jesus to proclaim the upside-down Kingdom of love, so He’s sending us.
John Stumbo VIDEO BLOG
tch John tell a story, share a devotional, issue challenge, or cast C&MA vision. Released on the 12th of each month.
Brian Scott and his wife, Susan, live in Nicholasville, Kentucky. He currently serves in the office of the Ohio Valley District.
Recent Releases:
Blog 135: Jesus as . . .
Blog 136: Loving, Good, Beautiful, Real
cmalliance.org/stumbo-video
PRAYER IS PRIMARY
Requests from Alliance workers
AFRICA
On a Sunday evening in West Africa, armed extremists invaded a village in a country in our region and ordered everyone to the local Alliance church. Once the people were inside, their attackers released the women and children and then tied up the 26 men. No one knows for sure what the extremists wanted, but some have surmised that they were asking for a religious tithe. Their demands were apparently unmet, and they proceeded to kill all 26 men. The victims included the young Alliance pastor, two adult children of C&MA pastors, and the father of a 2022 Alliance Bible school graduate. Numerous relatives and friends are mourning these terrible losses. Others are grieving more attacks in nearby villages.
Would you pray that these atrocities will come to an end and that God will restore peace to West Africa? Pray, too, for God to comfort the hearts of those who are grieving.
—an Alliance international worker serving with aXcess
BALKANS
We are thankful for those who pray for us and support the ministry at our team’s community center. As we write this update, fall programs and courses have begun and are off to a great start. A “Moms & Littles” group relaunched with the return of several local moms, plus a few more! This weekly ministry is a place for educational play, crafts, songs, puppets, and stories (and, of course, coffee). The goal is to create a welcoming, warm environment for moms while building relationships that get to the heart-level. It’s encouraging to see both believing and nonbelieving moms connecting outside the program—in their homes and the local park. Pray for our colleague, Emily, who leads the group and for conversations about Jesus to naturally flow from these tender relationships.
—an Alliance international worker couple serving with aXcess
UNITED STATES
Continue to pray for ongoing recovery efforts among those affected by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, both of which brought death and destruction to the South this past fall. Doug Prentice, U.S. Disaster Relief for coordinator for Church Ministries, observes, “Based on my experience with several large-scale natural disasters, there is an initial, overwhelming response to help in the first weeks following the disaster, but there can be long-term needs for financial assistance and volunteers to help with cleanup and rebuilding for years to come.”
As U.S. Alliance disaster recovery continues, pray for opportunities to come alongside those who are still hurting and traumatized by loss. Ask God to heal broken hearts and restore shattered lives. Pray, too, for people who are renovating/rebuilding homes and businesses that were damaged or destroyed and for those who lost livelihoods. As you pray, thank God for His protection of Shell Point Retirement Community in Fort Myers and the many Alliance churches that were spared major damage. Praise Him for Alliance people who opened their homes to neighbors needing shelter or helped disaster victims in countless other ways. May the love demonstrated by God’s people draw many hearts to the Savior.
—based on updates from U.S. Alliance staff
A home in an Alliance pastor’s neighborhood after Hurricane Helene struck Florida; photo courtesy of Kyle Estepp
ALLIANCE FAMILY NEWS
From around the block to the ends of the earth
TO THE FIELD
AFRICA REGIONAL OFFICE
Stan D. and Jaynee R. Walker and family, in August. The Walkers serve with aXcess and are involved in regional administration.
EUROPE REGIONAL OFFICE
Joel T. and Elin M. Bubna, in August. The Bubnas serve with aXcess and are involved in pastoral ministries.
GABON
Zachary J. and Jennifer M. O’Connor and family, in August. The O’Connors serve with aXcess and are involved in medical/ health ministries at Bongolo Hospital.
GERMANY BERLIN SPANISH TEAM
Maria V. De Leon Flores, in August. Maria serves with aXcess and is involved in language study and working with the Berlin Spanish team.
GUINEA
Stephen M. and Lori J. Albright, in August. The Albrights serve with CAMA and are involved in development ministries.
Andrew D. and Janice C. Gardner Jr., in August. The Gardners serve with aXcess on the Guinea Foutajalon team and are involved in evangelism and discipleship ministries.
Kenna H. Hull, in August. Kenna serves with CAMA and is involved in teaching third culture kids.
JAPAN
Blong and KZ Yang Thao, in August. The Thaos serve with Envision and are involved in language study.
MEXICO
Robert H. and Cheryl S. Fugate, in August. The Fugates serve with aXcess and are involved in church planting and Marriage Encounter.
PARAGUAY
Corey D. and Jessica Heiss and family, in August. The Heisses serve with aXcess and are involved in language study in Costa Rica before joining the aXcess team in Paraguay.
Mark S. and Lauren E. Reyes and family, in August. The Reyeses serve with aXcess and are involved in language study in Costa Rica before joining the aXcess team in Paraguay.
SENEGAL
Jeff A. and Jannette M. Thrane, in September. The Thranes serve with Envision and are involved in language study in Albertville before joining their team in Senegal.
SPAIN
Walter P. and Laura J. Hopkins and family, in August. The Hopkinses serve with aXcess and are involved in educational ministries.
Johnny and Soravel Llanos, in August. The Llanoses serve with aXcess and are ministering in Tres Cantos, including work at Life International School.
VIETNAM
An T. and Mau Le Nguyen, in August. The Nguyens serve with CAMA and are involved in education.
WEST AFRICA
Andrew J. and Esther C. Schaeffer, in August. The Schaeffers serve with aXcess and are involved in higher education and women’s ministries; they are also the guesthouse hosts.
PERSONNEL CHANGES
Douglas R. Anthony, special assignment, Ohio Valley District
Mary Lu Anthony, special assignment, Ohio Valley District
Agostinho J. Antonio, pastor, Hospital of Faith, London, Ohio
Leonardo Ayala, military chaplain candidate, Catedral de La Esperanza, Rio Piedras, P.R.
Lauren J. Babyak, adjunct professor, Eastern PA District
Jonathan K. Bahm, institutional chaplain, The Alliance South
David K. Bennett, chaplain, Alliance New England
David M. Bennett, pastor, Western PA District
Andrew G. Brackmann, pastoral resident, Lewisburg (Pa.) Alliance Church
David W. Borden, military chaplain, Alliance New England
William J. Bowser, pastor, Summit Church, Simpsonville, S.C.
Samuel T. Buchmeyer, assistant pastor, Arise Church, Sheboygan, Wis.
Vincent R. Cardarelle, campus pastor, Community Church North, Campbellsport, Wis.
Douglas A. Carroll, pastoral care, Fairhaven Church, Dayton, Ohio
Ryan G. Case, lead pastor, Fortine (Mont.) Community Church
Meredith P. Cowman, district personnel, Western PA District
Rong Hua Chen, lead pastor, West Valley Christian Alliance Church, San Jose, Calif.
Wayne Chu, interim pastor, Norwalk (Calif.) Cambodian Evangelical Church
Charles A. Davis III, special assignment, The Alliance Southeast
Mark R. DiAndreth, assistant pastor for admin and discipleship, Greensburg (Pa.) C&MA
Peter A. Dodge, institutional chaplain, The Alliance South
Samuel Q. Donica, executive pastor, Crossroads Neighborhood Church, Bremerton, Wash.
Stacy E. Douglas, district personnel, Central Pacific District
Logan P. Esposito, pastor, CrossWay Church Sussex (Wis.) Campus
Samuel B. Felix, pastor, Nueva Creacion Church, Bakersfield, Calif.
Nathan S. Fitzgerald, assistant pastor, Staunton (Va.) Alliance Church
Stephen R. Fletcher, interim pastor, Faith Bible Alliance Church, Neosho, Wis.
Chad D. Froelich, chaplain, Central District
Chun-Ming Fong, special assignment, Central Pacific District
Crystal Garnett, church planter, Catalyst Life Alliance Church, Bend, Ore.
Jesse Garnett, church planter, Catalyst Life Alliance Church, Bend, Ore.
Thomas M. Gonzalez Sr., lead pastor, Eagan Hills Alliance Church, Eagan, Minn.
Brian G. Gowing, business and technology manager, Great Lakes District
Robert M. Harris, district superintendent, Western Great Lakes District
Noah J. Henkel, pastor of student ministries, Central District
Simon K. Her, assistant pastor, English service, Hmong American Alliance Church, Maplewood, Minn.
Noe Hernandez, youth pastor, Faith Community Church, Red Oak, Iowa
Daniel M. Hutton, lead pastor, Bedford Community Church, Bedford Hills, N.Y.
Justen M. Hyland, campus pastor, Fairhaven Church Northmont Campus, Clayton, Ohio
E. Antonio Jones, district superintendent, The Alliance South
Kory J. Krusenstjerna, pastor, Casco (Maine) Alliance Church
Linh D. Le, interim pastor, Vietnamese Evangelical Church, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Matthew Leverknight, pastor, Community Bible Church, Portage, Pa.
Cameron W. Lucas, associate lead pastor, Crosspoint Community Church, Oconomowoc, Wis.
Mark C. Lynch, associate pastor, North Seattle (Wash.) Church
James N. MacFarlane, pastor, Cross Connections Alliance Church, McDonald, Pa.
Donald A. Mason, chaplain, Ohio Valley District
James M. McHugh, church planter, Uniontown (Pa.) Alliance Church
Brett J. McMorris, lead pastor, Evanston (Wyo.) Alliance Church
Andrew T. Mercurio, director of pastoral care and counseling, Ridgeway Alliance Church, White Plains, N.Y.
Caleb M. Merendino, pastor, Family Alliance Church, Conneaut, Ohio
William G. Miller, pastor, Lewistown (Pa.) C&MA Church
Victor Monroig-Butter, district superintendent, Spanish Eastern District
Justin E. Morris, special assignment, Northeastern District
Kurt A. Mueller, pastor, The Alliance South
Long T. Nguyen, local church ministry, Vietnamese Evangelical Church of Fountain Valley (Calif.)
Phong T. Nguyen, pastor, Vietnamese Alliance Church of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn.
Daniel J. Ockrin, interim pastor, Adirondack Alliance Church, Saranac Lake, N.Y.
Robert L. Olson, institutional chaplain, Eastern PA District
Timothy E. Osborn, interim pastor, Missio Community, Portland, Ore.
Harrison D. Owczarek, lead pastor, Adventure Church, Kalispell, Mont.
Tyler J. Peacock Sr., pastor, Relationship Alliance Church, Edgewater, Fla.
Rick W. Pennington, pastor, Sandy Lake (Pa.) C&MA Church
Ray L. Pfahler, coordinator of chaplaincy ministries, Central District
Jacob R. Poole, lead pastor, Freshwater Community Church, Wadsworth, Ohio
Jonathan B. Porterfield, international worker appointee, Alliance New England
Whitney A. Pritchard, pastor of connections and discipleship, Christ Community Church, Fort Myers, Fla.
Nigel G. Probert, transitional lead pastor, Bloomingdale (Ill.) Alliance Church
Jesse R. Reddoch, pastor, Christ Chapel, Madison, Conn.
Lauren E. Reyes, Paraguay field
John Rubonesha, pastor, Christ Our Hope Evangelical Church, Lowell, Mass.
Tito H. Rungwangwa, pastor, All Glory Church, Louisville, Ky.
David P. Sabater, church planter, The Alliance South Central
Brian W. Scott, district superintendent, Great Lakes District
Kim Shepson, pastor, Eagle Church, Whitestown, Indiana
Timothy M. Shutes, churchplanting pastor, Citylight Church, Philadelphia, Pa.
Brian Snyder, pastor and chief operating officer, Metropolitan District
Dean Timmerman, military chaplain, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Sean M. Truesdale, pastor, Community Alliance Church, Towanda, Pa.
Koob M. Vang, assistant pastor, New City NYC International Church, New York, N.Y.
Mauro W. Venegas, pastor, Iglesia Resurrección y Vida, Salinas, Calif.
Cuong T. Vi, pastor, Vietnamese Alliance Church San Fernando Valley, Van Nuys, Calif.
Jonathan Vizcarrando, assistant pastor, Iglesia Bíblica Gracia y Misericordia, Whitehall, Pa.
Daniel Waite, pastor, Fayette City (Pa.) Alliance Church
Paul J. Yanchek, pastor, Central District
Chia-Lin C. Yu, Congo South team
Baoyan Zhang, pastor, Chinese Alliance Church, Fort Myers, Fla.
NEW CHURCHES
Plano, Tex., Regeneration Community Church, 2700 Dallas Parkway, 75093
Reynoldsburg, Ohio, Eglise
Evangelique Amour de Christ, 737 Rosehill Drive, 43068
NEW WORKERS
Casey J. Analco, special assignment, MidAmerica District
William A. Arbelaez, pastor of Spanish ministry, NorthGate Community Church, Cathedral City, Calif.
Jacob Beaty, pastor, Clover Pass Community Church, Ketchikan, Alaska
Charles D. Bergevin, youth pastor, Belgrade, Mont.
Edward F. Brereton, church planter, Alliance New England
Jacob C. Carr, associate pastor, Wind River Community Church, Lander, Wyo.
Charles D. Clark, church planter, Alliance New England
Megan L. Elford, worship leader, Christ Community Church, Omaha, Neb.
Danielle C. Engstrom, ALME residency, Allegheny Center C&MA Church, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Mason E. Florence, pastor, Anchor Lakewood, Tacoma, Wash.
Aaron Freeman, pastor, Community Alliance Church, Garrison, Minn.
Haven T. Gonzalez, director of student ministries, Neighborhood Alliance Church, Longwood, Fla.
Bethany R. Gunn, ALME residency, Greenhouse Community Church, Houston, Tex.
Raeda A. Haddad, associate pastor, Columbus Arabic Church, Westerville, Ohio
Brandon M. Hall, associate pastor, The Stirring, Redding, Calif.
Tyler C. Hall, church planter, Alliance New England
Alvin Helms, pastor, Northside Community Church, Bellingham, Wash.
Timbrel J. Hull, special assignment, The Alliance South
Emmanuel Jean-Pierre, young adults pastor, Princeton Alliance Church, Plainsboro, N.J.
Nichoele C. Jezek, minister of outreach, Grace Church, Middleburg Heights, Ohio
Patrick Johnson, pastor, Hope Community Church, Brighton, Minn.
Stephen A. Jussenhoven, young adult pastor, The Grove Community Church, Riverside, Calif.
Jason R. Kliminsky, church planter, Alliance New England
Matthew Leverknight, pastor, Community Bible Church, Portage, Pa.
Oscar A. Lopez, missions pastor, Ministerios Nuevo Amanecer, Lynwood, Calif.
John M. McGuire, kids pastor, Fairhaven Church Beavercreek Campus, Dayton, Ohio
Jordan T. Merendino, youth pastor, Awakening Alliance Church, Ridgway, Pa.
Zachary J. Miller, pastor of worship and media, North Mar Church, Warren, Ohio
Brenna Modine, children’s ministry director, Mercer Creek Church, Ellensburg, Wash.
MacArthur R. Moser, campus pastor, Crown College, St. Bonifacius, Minn.
Miriam S. Nelson, life coach and spouse ministry, C&MA National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Dao T. Nguyen, assistant pastor, Vietnamese Alliance Church, Landisville, Pa.
David P. Nguyen, assistant pastor, Vietnamese Evangelical Church, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Tien Dat T. Ong, associate pastor, Tacoma (Wash.) Vietnamese Alliance Church
Roxanne M. Pepe, worship director, South Shore Community Church, Brockton, Mass.
Rosemary Perich, assistant pastor, Ministerios Vida Abundante, Ontario, Calif.
Phung Phan, associate pastor, Alderwood Vietnamese Community Church, Lynnwood, Wash.
Benjamin L. Pressnall, chaplain candidate, South Pacific Alliance
Virgil Reed, special assignment, Rocky Mountain District
George E. Rhodes, pastor, Arborway Community Church, Jamaica Plain, Mass.
Thomas D. Rice, youth pastor, LifePointe C&MA Church, Mars, Pa.
Donald Riley, lead pastor, First Alliance Church, Bucyrus, Ohio
Branden R. Root, pastor, Warren (Pa.) C&MA Church
Mark Sina, pastor of adult ministries, River Valley Alliance Church, Watertown, Wis.
Johnny H. Spence II, lead pastor, Chinook (Mont.) Alliance Church
Esther Suksamitti, children’s ministry director, Living Grace Alliance Church, West Covina, Calif.
Willard Tan, associate pastor, All for Jesus Christian Fellowship, Middleburg Heights, Ohio
Thomas Varughese, senior pastor, The Oaks Community Church, Bakersfield, Calif.
Michael C. Webb, worship arts director, Church of Emmanuel, Foxboro, Mass.
Erica Wyse, pastor of short-term missions, Trinity Alliance Church, Redding, Calif.
Daniel Xiong, military chaplain candidate
Xiaoling Yu, Cantonese ministry director, Community Christian Alliance Church, Granada Hills, Calif.
CONSECRATIONS/ ORDINATIONS
Michael "Mike" William Gabler, February 13, South Pacific Alliance District Office, Temecula Calif.
Mike is the youth pastor at Mosaic Church, Henderson, Nev.
Charles Ofori Amoh, Alliance National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Charles is a director for Alliance Youth.
John Charles Bobb, The Alliance Southeast, Keystone Heights, Fla. John’s post is currently unassigned.
Charles Chapman, Alliance National Office, Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Charles is the Alliance Missions candidate development specialist.
Brian Scott, Shawnee Alliance Church, Lima Ohio. Brian is the connections pastor.
The following consecrations and ordinations took place at Movement Church, Port Charlotte, Fla., September 17, 2024.
Joshua ˮJoshˮ Scott DuBois, The Alliance Southeast, Keystone Heights, Fla. Josh’s post is currently unassigned.
Travis Evan Duncan, Palm Coast (Fla.) Bible Church. Travis is the multiethnic ministry pastor.
Tyler Jeffrey Peacock Sr., Relationship Alliance Church, Edgewater, Fla. Tyler is the pastor.
Nathan ˮNateˮ Schaidt, The Alliance Southeast, Tallahassee, Fla. Nate is serving in other ministry/non-Alliance assignment.
Baoyan Zhang, Chinese Alliance Church, Fort Myers, Fla. Baoyan is the pastor.
RETIRED
Ron G. Ballard, Ohio Valley District
Jeffrey P. Brown, Great Lakes District
Dwight C. Brown Jr., The Alliance Southeast
Philip C. Chu, Central Pacific District
Daryl D. Dale, Alliance Northwest District
James L. Davey, Rocky Mountain District
Edward M. Eastman Jr., Alliance Southeast
Dennis D. Findorff, Rocky Mountain District
Gabriel A. Galdo, The Alliance South
Michelle D. Griffith, North Central District
James H. Grumbine Jr., Alliance New England
John L. Hazelrigg, Central Pacific District
David H. Hine Jr., Alliance Southeast
William D. Levy, Rocky Mountain District
Hugh M. Maynard, South Pacific Alliance
George C. McKain, Alliance Southeast
Randy S. Neilson, Rocky Mountain District
Michael D. Noel, The Alliance South
J. Kenneth Otto, The Alliance South
Mahlon A. Plowman, MidAmerica District
Mark W. Price, The Alliance South
Samuel Rivera, Spanish Eastern District
Edward R. Stephens, Ohio Valley District
Joyful Living Vibrant Faithful
Artful Healthy Fulfilled
At Shell Point® , you’ll enjoy a fulfilling lifestyle where you can explore, worship, learn, grow and even continue to serve. And with new additions to our campus, like Tribby Arts Center, a sparkling centerpiece for the arts, and the state-of-the-art Larsen Health Center, you can rest on a firm foundation, knowing that your needs will be taken care of – both now and in the future.
John C. Stoeckle, Ohio Valley District Unparalleled setting. Unparalleled lifestyle.™
Shell Point is located in Fort Myers, Florida, just minutes from the islands of Sanibel and Captiva.
Kenneth M. Toczyski, Ohio Valley District
Ralph S. Trainer, Central District
James Van Yperen, Alliance New England
Myron L. Wattenphul, Alliance Southeast
Robert W. Wido Jr., Central District
Timothy D. Williamson, Alliance Southeast
Stephen T. Wood, The Alliance South
Brian J. York, Alliance Southeast
WITH THE LORD
Lili Joseph
September 26, 1952–May 4, 2024
Born in Johnstown, Pa., Lili spent her childhood mostly in Fayetteville, N.C., and Augusta, Ga. She met her husband, Fred, while living in Portage, Pa., and they began attending Portage Alliance Church. In March 1970, while at a revival meeting during Holy Week, they accepted Christ as their Savior on Good Friday. The couple moved to Georgia in 1971 and enrolled in Toccoa Falls (Ga.) College, where Lili completed one semester.
For over 30 years, Lili supported her husband in pastoral ministry. Together they served churches in Blossburg, Pa. (1976–1977); Kinsman, Ohio (1978–1981); Rocky Mount, N.C., where they started a church plant (1981–1983); and Montgomery, Ala. (1986–1989). Lili also served in church plants in Beckley, W.Va.; Bluefield, Va.; Oak Hill, Pa.; and Lancaster, Ohio (1989–2011). Her gift of hospitality and willingness to wear many hats made her an excellent helpmate for Fred.
Lili is survived by her husband; daughter Sharon; and 1 granddaughter. A son, James, predeceased her in 2011.
Ruth Margaret Ringer
March 12, 1930–June 17, 2024
Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., Ruth attended Nyack (N.Y.) College (later Alliance University, New York, N.Y.). On June 6, 1953, she married Emory E. Ringer. For over 55 years, Ruth faithfully served alongside her husband in his preaching and pastoral ministry. Together they ministered in Hollidaysburg, Martindale, New Castle, Phillipsburg, Pittsburgh, Cambridge Springs, and Saegertown, Pa. Ruth spent her life caring for her family while also being very active in teaching and music with her husband in the pastorate. She enjoyed playing the piano, singing, reading God’s Word, knitting, and gardening.
Ruth was predeceased by her husband; an infant son, Emory Joel; and daughter Cheryl, captain of the U.S. Navy. She is survived by daughter Colleen and son Jeff; 6 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren.
Elsie McWherter Barney
April 26, 1926–July 4, 2024
Elsie was born in Derry, Pa., and attended Taylor University (Upland, Ind.) and the Missionary Training Institute (later Nyack [N.Y.] College and Alliance University in New York, N.Y.). She completed her BA in 1958 at Bethel College (St. Paul, Minn.). Elsie married G. Linwood Barney on July 24, 1946. She and Lin served as missionaries with the C&MA in Xieng Khouang, Laos, where they worked on reducing the unwritten Hmong language to writing so the Bible could eventually be made available to the Hmong people.
After their service in Laos was cut short by war, Elsie continued to partner in ministry with Lin as he served with the C&MA for another 33 years, teaching at St. Paul Bible College (now Crown College, St. Bonifacius, Minn.) and then at Jaffray School of Missions in Nyack, N.Y., which later became Alliance Theological Seminary. Elsie provided warm hospitality, encouragement, and friendship to hundreds of students, staff, and faculty while also serving in many varied ministries at C&MA churches in St. Paul and Nyack. During these years, she had her own ministry as a third-grade teacher with the Nyack Public Schools for 15 years. Elsie also enjoyed being a grandmother to her three granddaughters.
After she and Lin retired to Fort Myers, Fla., he was later diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Elsie was devoted to his care and ministry to others dealing with this experience at Shell Point Retirement Community. She also participated in many Bible studies and was a faithful member of the Community Church at Shell Point.
Elsie was predeceased by her husband in 2003 and by her daughter Karen in 2017; she is survived by daughter Linda; 3 granddaughters; 8 greatgrandchildren; and 1 great-great–grandchild.
John “Jack” Adair Sylvania
September 30, 1935–July 12, 2024
Jack attended Prairie Bible College (Alta., Canada) and Toccoa Falls (Ga.) College. During 40 years of C&MA ministry, he served as a pastor in Trees Mills (1964–1970), Irvona (1974–1979), New Kensington (1979–1995), and Brownsville (1995–1998), Pa. Jack was also an evangelist, a chalk artist, and a Mahaffey (Pa.) Camp painter. He was married to Phyllis, who predeceased him in 2010.
During retirement, Jack served his local communities through his employment at Walmart and by volunteering with local food pantries. Until a few days before his death, he was still drawing the birds and trees he saw outside his window. Jack’s artwork is displayed in the homes of family members and the many friends whom he met through his ministry.
Jack is survived by daughter Esther; son Eric; and 7 grandchildren.
Edward
“Ted” Allan Cline
December 25, 1933–July 14, 2024
Born in Hamilton, Ont., Canada, Ted attended Moody Bible Institute and Nyack (N.Y.) College (later Alliance University, New York, N.Y.). He married Marjorie Nicholas on April 26, 1957. Together they went to Vietnam in 1959 as C&MA missionaries. Ted was soon asked by the C&MA to accept a special assignment to lead the British and Foreign Bible Society in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, printing and distributing God’s Word in numerous languages. Innovative and enthusiastic in this work, in 1969 Ted was elected director of the Asia/Pacific Region of the United Bible Societies, based in Singapore, responsible for providing Scripture from the Middle East, across Asia, and the Pacific Islands. In 1975, Ted transitioned to the American Bible Society in New York, later becoming vice president of the International Bible Society in New Jersey.
In 1981, Ted was appointed director for the C&MA’s newly created Intercultural Ministries, facilitating pastoral leadership teams in churches in a wide variety of languages and cultures to thrive and multiply their congregations. He served on the C&MA Board of Managers and concluded 45 years of ministry as superintendent of the Central Pacific District (1996–2002).
Ted’s servant leadership made a lasting impression on those he served. He was a man of prayer, and his life displayed the fruit of the Spirit.
Ted is survived by his wife; daughters Robin and Janice; 6 grandchildren; and 7 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by their son, Mark, six weeks before his death.
September 27, 1937–July 20, 2024
Born in Akron, Ohio, Charlotte earned her nursing degree at West Suburban College of Nursing in Chicago, Ill. She received a BS in missions from the Missionary Training Institute (later Nyack [N.Y.] College and
Alliance University in New York, N.Y.),where she met Woodford “Woody” Stemple. They married in August 1961 and enjoyed 63 years of marriage. After a year at Jaffray School of Missions and a missionary internship in Detroit, Mich., they were appointed to Vietnam and headed there for language study in 1964 amid the Vietnam War. During the early years of her ministry, Charlotte wrote the book My Vietnam, which has sold well, particularly to Vietnam veterans. In 1973, Charlotte and Woody were reassigned as dorm parents at Dalat School (now Dalat International School) for missionaries’ children in Penang, Malaysia. There Charlotte served in various roles, including dorm parent, librarian, school nurse, drama teacher, and Bible teacher. Woody became the director of Dalat School for two years in 1978. In 1981, Woody and Charlotte left international ministry and settled in the United States, where Woody was called to pastor a church in Jamestown, N.Y.
Charlotte served as the head of Alliance Women for Jamestown, then for the Northeast District, and later as vice president for Alliance Women in the United States and as president of Alliance Women. In 1985, Woody was elected superintendent of the Northeastern District. Charlotte eventually became director for the C&MA’s Short-Term Missions Office, helping to establish what is now Envision, a specialized structure of Alliance Missions. In 1996, Charlotte and Woody transitioned to Maplegrove Alliance Church, where they served in pastoral ministry for six years. They were then missions mobilizers for the Central District.
Charlotte is survived by her husband; sons Stewart and Sam; 4 grandchildren; and 1 great-grandchild.
David Howard Stockwell
July 17, 1939–August 1, 2024
David was born in Lockport, N.Y. He received a BS from Alfred State Tech and his BA from Nyack (N.Y.) College (later Alliance University in New York, N.Y.). David then earned his MA from Wheaton (Ill.) Graduate School and his doctor of Christian ministry from Ebenezer Bible College and Seminary (Zamboanga City, Philippines). On June 7, 1969, he married Donelda Atkinson in Excelsior Springs, Mo.
After serving a C&MA pastorate in Warrensburg, N.Y. (1966–1968), David ministered as an international worker in the Philippines for 34 years. He was known as a man of deep faith with a servant’s heart.
David is survived by his wife; and children David Douglas, Jill, Brian, and Joy.
Charlotte Ruth Stemple
Virginia “Midge” Marylyn Fowler
August 12, 1938–August 16, 2024
Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Midge became a Christian when her Alliance Sunday school teacher led her to Christ. The work of the Spirit in Midge’s life at such a young age influenced her parents so significantly that they eventually became involved in Child Evangelism Fellowship. Shortly after her conversion, eight-yearold Midge announced that she was going to be a missionary to the Chinese people. At age 16, she contracted meningitis and became critically ill. Her doctor thought it was polio and told the family she might die and that if she lived, she would remain in a vegetative state. Through many prayers, she not only recovered but was also miraculously healed.
Midge attended Simpson College (now Simpson University, Redding, Calif.), where she met Chuck Fowler, a missionary kid from China. They married on June 7, 1961, and enjoyed 63 years of marriage. Midge and Chuck were appointed as C&MA international workers to Hong Kong, thus fulfilling the call that God gave Midge as a second grader. Over 40 years with the C&MA in Hong Kong, Midge planted multiple churches, taught at the Alliance seminary, and held a long-running interdenominational home Bible study for expatriates and local Chinese women. Through her ministry, many became followers of Jesus and were equipped by Midge to disciple others. Midge and Chuck also served at Dalat School in Penang, Malaysia, as dorm parents for two years.
Chuck and Midge retired from Hong Kong in 2004, settling in Wilsonville, Ore., where Chuck worked for the Pacific Northwest District for two years. They then moved to Salem, Ore. While attending Salem Alliance Church, Midge became involved in the church’s prayer and healing ministries. As she teamed with others, many men and women found freedom and experienced Jesus’ healing touch. Midge continued to personally disciple people who were new or struggling in their faith until her battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Midge is survived by her husband; children Rollen, Steve, and Cindy; 10 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Carol Martha Chryst August 28, 1937–August 22, 2024
Born in Clarkfield, Minn., Carol grew up on the east side of St. Paul and was a 1955 graduate of North St. Paul High School. She earned degrees from Crown College (St. Bonifacius, Minn.) and St. Cloud (Minn.) State
University; she received her master’s from the University of Minnesota. Carol taught at Dalat School in Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Carol later returned to Minnesota to help care for her mother. She taught school for several years and then became the assistant registrar at Bethel University, where she worked for many years. In her spare time, Carol taught English as a second language.
Carol is survived by her sister, Lois; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, greatgrandnieces, and great-grandnephews.
Donald “Don” Richard Smithgall
February 8, 1938–August 27, 2024
Don and his twin brother were born in Mt. Pleasant, Mich., to Lottie and Wendell Smithgall. He attended Northwestern Bible College (1956–1960), where he met Diane Samuelson. They married on August 12, 1960, and enjoyed 64 years of marriage. Don later attended Conservative Baptist Seminary in Minneapolis, Minn. (1960–1962).
Don and Diane lived and ministered in New Brighton, Minn.; Shellsburg, Iowa; Lake, Mich.; and Edmonds, Moses Lake, Federal Way, Spokane Valley, and Ellensburg, Wash. For over 50 years, Don pastored seven churches. His interests included quartets, Bible quizzing, mission trips, and participating in and watching sports. He passed away peacefully surrounded by family.
Don is survived by his wife; sons Dennis, Daryl, Dwayne, and Douglas; and 6 grandchildren.
Eileen Marie Sather
November 21, 1927–September 13, 2024
Eileen was born in St. Paul, Minn. After high school, she began attending Simpson Memorial Church (now Living Christ Church) in Nyack, N.Y., and became a follower of Jesus. When she received Christ, Eileen felt some hesitancy about becoming a missionary because of a physical problem. However, the Lord continued to lead her to pursue overseas ministry. She attended Bethel College (now Bethel University) before receiving a BS in education from the University of Minnesota. Eileen taught for one year in St. Paul before departing for Africa to teach the children of C&MA international workers.
During 37 years of C&MA ministry, Eileen served as a missionary in Guinea and Gabon, West Africa. While there, she taught hundreds of missionary children. Eileen retired from the mission field in 1990 but
continued teaching in California and Minnesota before concluding her career as an English as a second language teacher among Hmong immigrants in St. Paul. At the time of her death, she was still hearing from some of her former students.
Eileen is survived by nephews Mark and Scott and her church family.
Marilou Ward Morgan
May 6, 1926–September 15, 2024
A native of Durham N.C., Marilou discovered her love for music at a tender age. A skilled pianist and organist, she earned a teacher’s certificate in elementary and music training and had a beautiful singing voice. Marilou embraced the Lord in her early years and had a profound spiritual awakening in her 20s at a Youth for Christ rally. As a C&MA church member in Durham, she participated in various ministries, including serving as an Alliance Youth Fellowship leader, a junior and adult teacher, and a children’s counselor with the Billy Graham Crusade. Despite life’s challenges, including becoming a single parent, she raised her children with unwavering faith.
Marilou’s professional career spanned several decades, primarily in the medical field. For 25+ years, she was the administrative assistant to Dr. W. G. Anlyan, vice president for Health Affairs and professor of surgery at Duke University Medical Center. In this role, Marilou supported the administration of the entire campus, including the nursing school, medical school, and Durham VA Hospital.
Marilou harbored a lifelong desire to serve as a missionary, notably to support existing missionaries with administrative tasks. In 1976, she fulfilled her dream when she was appointed to serve with the C&MA in Colombia, where she formed lasting relationships while living in Cali and Bogota. Although her mission was cut short due to safety concerns, she continued her service at the C&MA National Office at their Nyack, N.Y., and Colorado Springs, Colo., offices.
Marilou is survived by daughters Janet and Ann; 3 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren.
“Hap” J. Arnold
March 29, 1925–September 25, 2024
Hap was a born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and married his wife, Hazel, on February 20, 1949. A World War II veteran, he served
in the Naval Air Force and participated in the Asiatic Pacific campaign. After his release from the armed forces, Hap attended Lincoln Chiropractic College (Indianapolis, Ind.), where he received a chiropractic degree. He continued his studies in physical medicine at Central State College of Physiatrists in Eaton, Ohio, where he earned a doctor of mechanotherapy. Hap specialized in athletic injuries and was associated with the Cincinnati Mohawks ice hockey team and was later a consulting physician with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team.
In 1956, Hap graduated from Nyack (N.Y.) Missionary College (later Alliance University, New York, N.Y.), where he earned a bachelor of theology and was later the assistant director of development. For more than 37 years, Hap served as a C&MA pastor in both established congregations and new church-planting initiatives. As a church planter, he was also a consultant for starting new congregations, both in the C&MA and other denominations. He was a contributing author to The Church Planter’s Manual and Churches Planting Churches Manual, both C&MA publications and books on evangelism. In 1981, Hap lectured at the American Festival of Evangelism in Kansas City, Mo., on how to plant a church without a committed core group.
Hap was the extension director and superintendent in the Southeastern District. He also served as a trustee at Toccoa Falls (Ga.) College and on the Board of Directors at Shell Point Retirement Community (Fort Myers, Fla.) and the Alliance Retirement Center, now Alliance Community (DeLand, Fla.). Hap chaired the Lake Swan Board of Directors, a camping ministry in Melrose, Fla. Other C&MA ministry assignments took him to Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, and China. In his last role, he was the national director for church planting (1994–1996).
Hap was predeceased by his wife and adopted daughter Andrea; he is survived by children Paul and Cindy; 2 grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren.
Harry
